By Olivia Hall, Student Guest Writer from Louisa County High School

When spring returns, many students replace their puffer jackets and lined leggings with tank tops and dresses. However, some colors are not as flattering for certain skin undertones as others, so knowing which colors best complement one’s undertone will help pick fashion for the following season.

An undertone is a color beneath the skin that resonates with what makeup, clothing or jewelry suits them. There are three different undertones: cool, warm and neutral. Cooler undertones range from pink to blue and are found in people with blue or indigo veins. Cool or pastel-toned colors fit best with this undertone, which also matches the soft color palette of spring.

“I am a cool undertone, so I like to wear cool-toned colors,” art teacher Alex LaBarr said. “I like to wear pastel colors since they make me think of spring.” Warm undertones are bolder colors that resemble the vibrancy of the undertone. When comparing jewelry, warmer gemstone hues and gold/rose gold jewelry chains or bands best suit the warm undertone. Reds, blues, and the 2025 Pantone Color of the Year, mocha mousse, complement this undertone. These fierce, bright colors harmonize with warm undertones that resemble spring fun and flower bouquets.

“If someone has darker hair or a warmer undertone, they should wear darker clothes,” junior Charlee Davis said. “I have a warm-colored undertone, so I look best in darker clothing.”

The third type of skin undertone is neutral, a balance of cool and warm undertones. People with neutral undertones have an expansive choice of makeup products and clothing items. “For neutral undertones,” Davis said, “I would say that the brighter colors look best. They complement the skin in all the right ways.”

Although specific colors complement skin tones better than others, people still dress against these style beliefs. Some would rather wear their favorite colors because they feel confident and comfortable in these shades. Either way, many people appreciate spring-themed colors.

“Although yellow and green are wrong for my undertones, I’ll wear them,” long-term substitute Audrie Trammel said. “Yellow is a happy color. It makes me feel good, so I wear it.”

Different color examples that enhance cool, warm, and neutral undertones. Image designed on Canva by Olivia Hall.

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